Precision assembly is the process of assembling parts or components with the highest accuracy and care. This precision is particularly important for optical sensors or sensitive medical components. The demands on assembly accuracy are so high that only machine assistance can ensure repeatability. This is why match is developing equipment technology for precision assembly: special grippers, high-precision handling devices and process-specific measurement concepts are being developed and implemented.

However, high-precision assembly requires more than just precise equipment. The assembly process must also be ideally adapted to the product. Automated bonding in particular is the focus of assembly process development. In principle, adhesive bonding is suitable for many micro and precision assembly tasks. However, it requires robust and precise process control. Otherwise, stresses caused by adhesive shrinkage, for example, can cause component distortion and ultimately product failure. By taking a holistic approach, product, process and equipment technology can be optimally matched, allowing problems to be identified and avoided at an early stage.

The team at match realises this key research for industrial partners and in public projects. The PhoenixD cluster of excellence focuses on the alignment of optical components. However, the quality of the assembly process can only be achieved by analysing all manufacturing processes in parallel. This is why data processing and networked production are playing an increasingly important role in this application. Integrated sensor technology is used to collect information to optimise individual sub-processes, the process sequence and components.